Aglaonema plant named ‘Indo-Queen’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Aglaonema  plant named ‘Indo-Queen’, characterized by its upright and outwardly arching plant form; relatively rapid growth rate; freely clumping habit and short internodes; full, dense and bushy appearance; lanceolate leaves with acuminate apices; leaves positioned roughly horizontally to outwardly arching; upper leaf surfaces with light green-colored leaves with scattered dark green-colored spots, splashes and margins; green-colored leaf petioles with sparse and random pale yellow-colored spots and streaks; and tolerance to low temperatures.

Botanical denomination: Aglaonema hybrida.

Cultivar designation: ‘Indo-Queen’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Aglaonema plant, botanically known as Aglaonema hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Indo-Queen’.

The new Aglaonema is the result of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Bangalore, India. The objective of the breeding program is to create new compact Aglaonema cultivars with compact and dense plant habit and unique and attractive leaf coloration.

The new Aglaonema originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in 1990 of the Aglaonema hybrida cultivar Chartreuse Halo, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with the Aglaonema commutatum cultivar Malay Lady, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Aglaonema was discovered and selected by the Inventor in 1991 as a single plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Bangalore, India. The new Aglaonema was selected on the basis of its compact plant habit and attractive foliage coloration.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar by vegetative cuttings since June, 2000 in a controlled environment in Zolfo Springs, Fla., has shown that the unique features of this new Aglaonema are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Indo-Queen’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Indo-Queen’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Aglaonema:

-   -   1. Upright and outwardly arching plant form.     -   2. Relatively rapid growth rate.     -   3. Freely clumping habit and short internodes; full, dense and         bushy appearance.     -   4. Lanceolate leaves with acuminate apices.     -   5. Leaves positioned roughly horizontally to outwardly arching.     -   6. Attractive leaf coloration; upper leaf surfaces with light         green-colored leaves with scattered dark green-colored spots,         splashes and margins.     -   7. Green-colored leaf petioles with sparse and random pale         yellow-colored spots and streaks.     -   8. Tolerant to low temperatures.

In side-by-side comparisons conducted by the Inventor in Bangalore, India, plants of the new Aglaonema differed from plants of the female parent, the Aglaonema hybrida cultivar Chartreuse Halo, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Aglaonema were more compact than plants of         the cultivar Chartreuse Halo.     -   2. Plants of the new Aglaonema were more freely clumping than         plants of the cultivar Chartreuse Halo.     -   3. Plants of the new Aglaonema has shorter and narrower leaves         than plants of the cultivar Chartreuse Halo.     -   4. Plants of the new Aglaonema and the cultivar Chartreuse Halo         differed in leaf coloration as plants of the cultivar Chartreuse         Halo had gray-colored leaves with green-colored patches along         the midrib and margin.

In side-by-side comparisons conducted by the Inventor in Bangalore, India, plants of the new Aglaonema differed from plants of the male parent, the Aglaonema commutatum cultivar Malay lady, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Aglaonema were taller than plants of the         cultivar Malay Lady.     -   2. Plants of the new Aglaonema were more freely clumping than         plants of the cultivar Malay Lady.     -   3. Plants of the new Aglaonema had longer and broader leaves         than plants of the cultivar Malay Lady.     -   4. Plants of the new Aglaonema and the cultivar Malay Lady         differed in leaf coloration as plants of the cultivar Malay Lady         had dark green-colored leaves with irregular gray green-colored         bands.

Plants of the new Aglaonema can also be compared to plants of the cultivar Silver Queen, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Bangalore, India, plants of the new Aglaonema differed from plants of the Aglaonema cultivar Silver Queen in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Aglaonema grew more rapidly than plants of         the cultivar Silver Queen.     -   2. Plants of the new Aglaonema had larger leaves than plants of         the cultivar Silver Queen.     -   3. Plants of the new Aglaonema and the cultivar Silver Queen         differed in leaf coloration as plants of the cultivar Silver         Queen were lighter green in color.     -   4. Plants of the new Aglaonema were more low temperature         tolerant than plants of the cultivar Silver Queen.

Plants of the new Aglaonema can also be compared to plants of the cultivar Maria Christina, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Bangalore, India, plants of the new Aglaonema differed from plants of the Aglaonema cultivar Maria Christina in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Aglaonema grew more rapidly than plants of         the cultivar Maria Christina.     -   2. Plants of the new Aglaonema were more freely clumping than         plants of the cultivar Maria Christina.     -   3. Plants of the new Aglaonema had larger leaves than plants of         the cultivar Maria Christina.     -   4. Plants of the new Aglaonema and the cultivar Maria Christina         differed in leaf coloration as plants of the cultivar Maria         Christina were lighter green in color.     -   5. Plants of the new Aglaonema were more low temperature         tolerant than plants of the cultivar Maria Christina.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Aglaonema, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Aglaonema.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘Indo-Queen’.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of typical leaves of ‘Indo-Queen’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants of the cultivar Indo-Queen have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants of the new Aglaonema that were grown in 25-cm containers, in Zolfo Springs, Fla., in a polypropylene-covered shadehouse with light levels about 2,000 to 3,000 foot-candles. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 23° C. to 35° C. and night temperatures ranged from 16° C. to 26° C. Plants used for the photographs and description were about one year from planting. Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Aglaonema hybrida cultivar Indo-Queen. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.— Aglaonema hybrida cultivar             Chartreuse Halo, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.— Aglaonema commutatum cultivar             Malay Lady, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Summer: About 12 to 15 days at             27° C. Winter: About 20 to 24 days at 16° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plant.—Summer: About one month at             27° C. Winter: About two months at 16° C.         -   Root description.—Thick, fibrous, fleshy, and             freely-branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form.—Erect when young, becoming outwardly arching as             leaves develop; inverted triangle, symmetrical and uniform.         -   Vigor/growth rate.—Vigorous; relatively rapid growth rate.             Plant size appropriate for 25-cm containers.         -   Growth habit.—Freely clumping habit; plants typically             produce about 24 offshoots per plant; full, dense and bushy             appearance.         -   Plant height.—About 38 cm.         -   Plant width (spread).—About 66 cm.         -   Stem description.—Length: About 14 cm. Diameter: About             1.75 cm. Internode length: About 1.4 cm. Aspect: Upright to             outwardly arching. Strength: Good. Color: 146A to 147A.         -   Foliage description.—Appearance: Single; clasping. Length:             About 20.5 cm. Width: About 6.25 cm. Shape: Lanceolate.             Apex: Acuminate. Base: Obtuse to cordate. Margin: Entire;             undulating. Orientation: Initially upright to roughly             horizontal to outwardly arching. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Mostly smooth, slightly rugose; glabrous; thick             and leathery. Veins: Slightly recessed on upper surface and             prominent on lower surface. Venation pattern: Pinnate.             Color: Developing and fully expanded leaves, upper surface:             Close to 147B; scattered spots, splashes and margins, 147A.             Developing and fully expanded leaves, lower surface: More             green than 146A. Venation, upper and lower surfaces: Same as             lamina. Petiole: Aspect: Erect to outwardly arching. Length:             About 18 cm. Diameter, distal: About 1.4 cm. Diameter,             proximal: About 4 mm. Wing length: About 10.9 cm. Wing             diameter: About 5 mm. Color, petiole and wing: 146A; sparse             and random spots and streaks, close to 4D. -   Inflorescence description: Inflorescence development has not been     observed on plants of the new Aglaonema grown under shadehouse     production conditions. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Aglaonema have been     observed to be resistant to root pathogens common to Aglaonema such     as Phytophthora. Plants of the new Aglaonema have not been observed     to be resistant to pests and other pathogens common to Aglaonema. -   Weather tolerance: Plants of the new Aglaonema have been observed to     be tolerant to wind, rain and temperatures ranging from 7 to 41° C. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Aglaonema plant named ‘Indo-Queen’, as illustrated and described. 